guenther



A. G. GUENTHER. wme mm MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED- OCT. 3. I917. 1,324,590. Patented 1m. 9,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q

17) War; to I A. G. GUENTHER.

WIRE TYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001.3. 1911-.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. G. GUENTHEH.

WIRE TYING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlOfl FILED OCT- 3. l9l7.

1,324,590. Patented-Dec. 9,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

56 I Q i 1;]

N D snares A ARTHUR G. GUENTHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 3. S. MGCHESNEY &7 (.70., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VIBE-TYING MACHINE.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed. October 3, '1917. Serial No. 194,442.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. GUENTHER, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Tying Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wire-tying machines, and more particularly to machines for banding boxes or other objects with wire. In its general aspects, the objects of my invention are to provide a simple, compact and positively operating mechanism for enabling boxes or the like to be rapidly banded with wire fed from a continuous coil or reel; for enabling the tensioning of the wire to be efiected with a uniform and predetermined degree of tautness; and for automatically moving the object during the tensioning of the wire, so that the wire will be tightened with substantial uniformity over the several edges of the object. Furthermore, my invention aims to provide a simple and effective means for speedily tensioning the wire by a single and continuous pull; for automatically adjusting the extent to which the wire is retracted, so as to afford the desired tensioning; for enabling the tensioning to be done by power means, and for preventing a possible damaging of the parts by an excessive movement thereof in case of a breaking of the wire. So also, my

invention aims to provide simple and effective means for automaticallyreturning the wire-pulling clamp to its initial position after the loop-tightening, wire fastening and wire severing operations have been com pleted for each loop or band; for automatically opening this clamp when returned to its initial position; for easily starting the loop tightening twisting and severing mechanism in operation, and for limiting the amount of the intertwisting of the loop portions to a predetermined extent; also to provide simple means for lifting the banded or wire-bound object clear of all operative parts of the mechanism, and to provide safety means for guarding against a premature actuating of this lifting mechanism. Further and to some extent more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which.drawings- Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a machine embodying my invention.

Flg. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same, with some portions of the supporting frame omitted to avoid the concealing of lmportant parts of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through a portion of the strippin mechanlsm, taken along'the line 33 0 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through portions of the stripping and twisting mechanism, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section showing portions of the friction drive arrangement and taken alon the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an en arged vertical section through portions of the clutch and of the clutch-actuating mechanism, taken along the line 66 of Fig. 2. 4

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section show ing details of the clutch and the clutchactuating mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the single-directioned or cumulatively slipping tensioning of the wire by the box banding methods heretofore in use.

Fig. 10 is a similar view indicating the double-directioned or symmetrically balanced tensioning of the wire as accomplished by the machine of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the means for automatically opening the wirepulling clamp when returned to its initial position. i

In many of its general aspects, my invention relates to wire-tying and wire-banding appliances of the type of those shown in applications No. 130941 and 140883, as both filed by John Sherman McChesney of Chicago. These applications disclosed mechanism for tightening a loop of wire disposed around a. box or other object, for 1ntertwisting overlapped portions of the wire loop, and for thereafter severing the finished wire loop from the supply of Wire. In the cited McChesney applications, the.tightening of the loop is accomplished gradually through a step-by-step operation by foot power, thereby requiring an amount of muscular strength and time which I propose to save by substituting mechanical power and a single continuous pull. Moreover, with the McChesney appliances, the tensioning of the wire is all accomplished from one direction as Viewed in relation to the object which is being banded, thereby causing decided dfierences in the extent to which the wire indents the several edges of the object. My invention proposes to provide means for automatically movin theob- 'ect during the tightening of the oops or band around the same, thus distributing the tensioning as uniformly as if the loop had been simultaneously tightened in two oposite directions, and thereby enabling wire Bands of this general class to be used even on objects having relatively delicate surface portions. However, while 1 havereferred to my invention as implying an lmprovement upon the disclosure of the said Mc- Chesney applications, I do not wish to be limted to embodiments based upon the said disclosures; neither do I wish to be limited to the use of wire in the round form as illustrated, as my appliance should function equally well with wires or bands of other sections and should be equally suitable for use with other objects than the rectangularly sectioned box which I have illustrated in explaining the operation of one particular embodiment.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the

, appliance of my invention includes a table 1 mounted on a frame 2, some parts of which supporting frame have been omitted to avoid concealing important elements of the mechanism. Mounted on the upper face of the table are plates 3 and a having alined slots extending longitudinally of the table and adapted to be entered by portions of the wire. These plates are equipped with spring pressed plungers 5, one of which is normally sufficient in the plate 4 while the plate 3 is desirably equipped with a number of such plunger-s or spring latches so as to accommodate considerable variations in the sizes of the packages which are to be banded. The plate 1 has a substantially central opening exposing a portion of the wire-twisting pinion 6, and also exposing the tips 7 of a vertically movable stripper, which stripper has tips normally flush with the surface of the table and which may be raised to lift the banded package clear of the wire twisting mechanism, the latter mechanism being here shown in the same form as in the heretofore mentioned application of John Sherman McChesney. As parts of this mechanism, the table 1 carries grippers 8 arranged for clamping certain portions of the wire loop, and also carries a pair of stops against which the package abuts when in position for banding. Each of these stops desirably comprising a plate 9 rigid upon the table 1 and havin an extension 10 mount d thereon and ad ustable in position so as to adapt itself to varyin sizes of the packages. with which the mac ine is to be used. Each of these extensions 10 has pivoted ,upon it a stop arm 11 which is normally swung outward, or into the position shown in Fig. 1, by a spring 12.

Mounted also upon the table 1 and dcslrably extending between the said plates 9, is a slide 13 carrying opposed gripper jaws 14, which jaws cooperate with cam formations on the slide for causing the jaws to be pressed towardeach other when they are moved toward the right with the machine viewed as in Fig. 1. Each of these jaws desirably has its tip also equipped with .a cam formation adapted to engage co operating formations on the table 1 when the jaw is pressed to its extreme forward position by a spring 15 (as shown more-in detail in Fig. 11), thereby opening the jaws automatically when in their initial position or the position nearest to the package which is to be banded. The slide carrying the said jaws is fastened to one end of a flexible member, desirably in the form of a chain 16, which member passes over a guide pulley 17 mounted on a slide 18, the latter being normally forced away from the wire twisting portion of the machine by a spring 19. The other end of the chain 16 is fastened to a drum 20 and adapted to be wrapped around this drum when the latter is rotated. The drum 20 is mounted on a stationary shaft 21 and is normally held from rotation about this shaft by a spring 22 connecting the two, thereby holding the drum in a position in which a lug 23 upon the same engages a bar 54 forming part of the frame of the machine. The drum 20 has upon one of its faces an incomplete friction ring 21, desirably beveled in section and adapted to be engaged by a friction wheel 25 on a shaft 26 connected through a universal joint 27 with the shaft of a continuously runnin motor 58. The shaft portion 26 is partly supported by a bell crank lever 28 which is pivoted to a portion of the frame of the machine, and which lever may be moved through a link 29 by a treadle 30, so as to press friction wheel 25 against the incomplete annular friction surface 24 on the drum 20. However, the said friction elements are normally held out of engagement by suitable means, such as a spring 31 socketed in a portion of the bell crank 28 and bearing against a part of the frame of the machine as shown in Fig; 5.

The wire-twisting mechanism of the machine desirably includes a pinion 6 so proportioned as to be given the desired number of revolutions by a single rotation of a gear 32 which meshes with this pinion and which is carried by a twister shaft 33. The twister shaft is connected to a continuously rotating wheel 34 by a clutch arranged for .freely rotatable.

of the shaft 33. For this purpose I have here shown a clutch bod 35 fast upon the shaft 33, on which sha the wheel 34 is The clutch body 35 carries a sliding pin 36 having one end ada ted to enter a socket in the hub of the w eel 34 and having at its other end a head 37 connected to suitable spring -means tending to move the pin 36 into its said latching or connecting position. However, this movement of the pin is normally prevented by the interposing of the end of a latch 38 between the body 35 of the clutch and the said head 37, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7 and in the said McChesney application. The latch 38 is pivoted upon a portion of the frame of the machine and continuously pressed toward its latching position by a spring 39, out of which'position it may be moved by the pressure of a trip lever 40,

which leveris pivoted on a swinging arm 41 'as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The arm 41 is continuously urged in one direction by a spring 42 connecting the same with a rigid portion of the frame of the machine, thereby normally holding the lever'40 in a position in which the beveled end of the said being continuously driven by the motor 28 through a belt 45. However, when the operating rod 43 is moved toward the left in Figs. 2 and 7, the cam formation of its tip rocks the lever 40, thereby moving the latch 38 out of its operative or interposed position and permitting the clutch pin 36 to connect the wheel 34 withthe' shaft 33, and thus actuating the wire intertwisting pinion 6. While thus rotating, the clutch body 35 carries a lug 46 upon the same into the path of a lug 47 on the lever 40, thereby swinging the arm 41 into the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 8, and thus carrying the beveled end of the lever 40 out of the path of the operating rod 43. As soon as this occurs, the spring 44 rocks the lever 40 back to its initial position, thereby enabling the spring 39 to return the pivoted latch 38 to the normal position in which it engages the beveled tip of the projection 37 as the clutch approaches its starting position, and thus releasing the pin 36 from its clutching engagement. In so doing, a portion of the latch 38 is also brought into position for engaging a lug 48 on the clutch body and thereby positively stopping the clutch body and the shaft 33 in a predetermined position. Meanwhile, since the beveled end of the rocking lever 40 has been swung to one side of the toe of the operating rod 43 and then snapped upward, this toe willbe inte'rposed between the beveled end of the said lever and a stop 49 forming part of the frame of the machine shown in Fig. 8, thereby preventing the spring 42' from swinging the arm 41 and thelever carried by the latter back into its operative position. Consequently, any continued longitudinal forcing of the rod 43 will not actuate the clutch again, as the clutch-actuating mechanism will not again be in operativeposition until the rod 43 has first been retracted so as to permit the spring 42 to return the arm 41 and the lever 40 to their initial positions. In other words, when the twister shaft 33 has once been rotated, no further rotation of this shaft can occur until the operating rod 43 has first been retracted to its normal position.

To return the slide 13 and the gripper jaws 14 carried by the same to their initial positions, I desirably provide a. flexibleband 50. also connected to the drum 20, but in the opposite direction from the chain 16, and thus practically cooperating with the chain to form an endless band wrapped partly around the drum and moved by the latter. To move the stripper 7 I desirably provide a link 51 operatively connected to a treadle 52 and adapted to engage the stripper 7 and to lift the latter when the said treadle is depressed. However, an inexperienced or nervous operator might acspring by pressing a knob 56. With the safety provisions thus arranged, a pressing of the treadle 52 will not actuate the stripper unless it has been preceded by a pressing of the knob 56.

In operatin the machine as above described, the wire 57 is taken direct from a reel 58, bent into a looped formation and snapped into' osition as more particularly described in t e cited McChesney application heretofore mentioned. That is to say, the supply portion of the wire is snapped under the spring latch 5 located between the swinging jaws 11, then disposed in loop formation and the free end of the wire is snapped under one of the left hand spring latches 5. Next, the overlapping wire loop portions are both inserted in the upwardly open slot of the wire twisting pinion 6, with the portion .leading to the reel uppermost, and the loop portions are clamped by the spring grips 8. Then the portion of the wire leading to the reelis gripped between the wedging jaws 14 and the main treadle 30 is depressed. This depressing of the treadle actuates the friction drive and the chain 16 through the jaws 14 to exert a single and continuous pull on the wire, the free end of which wire is gripped as before stated. The resulting tensioning of the wire around the package 59 tends to draw this object toward the right in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby moving the swinging stops 11 against the,

pressure of the spring 12 and thus permitting the wire to be slid around the corners of the box partly from one end of the loop and partly from the other end. In other words, insteadof having the sliding of the wire increase cumulatively over the successive corners A, B, C and D of the box as in Fig. 9, the box itself slides somewhat toward the right, so that the sliding of the wire is cumulative only as between the corners A and B and the corners C' and D respectively as indicated in Fig. 10.

While the chain or flexible element 16'is thus tensioning the wire of the loop, the pull on this chain will also tend to strengthen the latter, as by moving the idle wheel 17 toward the left in Fig. 2. Consequently, this action will tend to move the slide 18 toward the left and such a sliding takes effeet as soon as the resulting strain is sufficient to overcome the pressure of the spring 19. Then the continued pull on the chain 16 due to the winding of the latter on the drum 20 will move the slide 18 instead of causing a further tensioning ofthe wire loop, so that the spring 19 automatically regulates the degree to which the wire loop is tightened. The movement of the slide 18 carries with it the operating rod 13, thus causing the latter to rock the lever 40 and actuate the wire-twisting mechanism, after which a further movement of the slide and the rod 43 only maintains the tip of the latter in a position in which it prevents a repeating of the wire twisting and w 1re cutting operation. As soon as this tw1st1ng and cutting has occurred, which is easily judged from the click of the clutch part of the mechanism, the operator releases his pres sure on the main treadle 30, thereby swinging the friction drive parts out of operative relation and permitting the spring 22 to return the clamp 13 and the chain to their initial positions. The operator then presses the knob 56 and depresses the stripper treadle 52, thereby raising the banded box out of its former position and permitting the latter to be freely handled without danger of entangling the wire with any portion of the mechanism. To prevent an excessive movement of the chain 16 in case of a break ing of the wire or the like, I preferably make the friction surface 24 in the form of an incomplete ring, thus providing a gap as shown in Figs. 2 and 5within which gap termined by the pressure of the spring 19),

starts the wire intertwistingand wire cutting mechanism (including cutters operating through slots in the table 1, substantially as in the said McChesney applications, but not shown in the present drawings), and then guards the various parts against damage by excessive or prematurely repeated movement. Likewise, the substitution of the spring-pressed arms 11 for the rigid stops formerly used in such machines permits the object to move during the banding, thus laterally equalizing the movement and stretch ing of the wire just as if the clamps gripping the ends of the wire loop had been correspondingly spread during the said tightening of the loop. In this way, I not only secure a more uniform tension in the different parts of the loop, but also equalize the extent to which thewire indents the several edges of the package, such as the four edges of an ordinary box. Thus, instead of having the indenting quite deep at one edge (as was likely to be the case with the older method) I have been able to reduce this in denting to such an extent that I can tightly band even frail paper boxes or paper covered packages of currency without unduly indenting the covering in either case.

However, it should be understood that the drawings and description only disclose an illustrative embodiment of my invention, and that I do not wish to be limited to the particular details of construction or arrangement therein disclosed, it being obvious that the same might be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the ap pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an appliance for banding an object with a wire loop encircling the same, two grippers disposed for gripping portions of the wire spaced by the wire forming the loop, means for relatively moving the grippers, and a yielding stop engaging the object to resist a movement of the latter during the relative moving of the grippers.

2. In an appliance for banding an object with a loop of wire encircling the object and presenting end portions extending in opposite directions, grips respectively clamping the said wire ends adjacent to a single face of the object, means for relatively moving with a loop of wire encircling the object and presenting end portions extending in opposite directions, grips respectively clamping said wire ends, means for relatively moving the grips to tighten the loop around the object, and a stop engaging the object and resisting the movement of the object toward one of the grips during the said tightening, the stop belng yieldingly arranged to permit a limited movement of the object toward the last named grip during the said tight- 4. In an appliance for banding an object with a loop of wire encircling the object and presenting end portions extending 1n opposite directions, grips respectively clamping said wire ends, means for relatively moving the grips to tighten the loop around the object, a stop engaging the object and resisting the movement of the object toward one of the grips during the said tightening, the stop being yieldingly arranged to permit a limited movement of the object toward the last named grip during the said tightening;

and means for regulating the resistance offered by the stop to the movingl of the object.

5. In an appliance for ban ing an object with a wire loop encircling the object, a support for the object, grips carried by the support and engaging substantially end portions of the wire loop,- and cooperating means carried by the support for moving the grips farther apart and for moving the object with respect to the support to maintain the object substantially medial with respect to the grips.

6. In an appliance for banding an object with an encircling loop of wire, a support for the object, a pair of grips respectively engaging end portions of the wire loop, one of the said grips being fast upon the support and the other movable with respect thereto, means for moving the latter grip to tighten the loop, and yielding stop means upon the support engaging the object to resist a movement of. the object in the same direction with the last named grip.

7. In an appliance for handing an object with an encircling loop 'of wire, a support for the object, a pair of grips respectively engaging end portions of'the wire loop, one of the said grips being fast upon the support and the other movable with respect thereto,;-means for moving the latter grip to tighten the loop, and yielding stop means upon the support engaging the object to resist a movement of the object in the same direction with the last named grip in combination with means for regulating the resistance of the stop means to the said movement of the object. o v

8. In an appliance for bandin an object with a wire loop encircling the o ject, separate grippers for gripping two portions of the wire, means for relatively moving the gr ppers, and means responsive to the operation of the last named means for causing the obJect. to move substantially half as far as the grippers are relatively moved;

9. In a wire-banding appliance, a supportfor an object, grips carried by the support and respectively disposed for engaging the ends of a wire loop encircling the obect; means carried by the support for relatively movmg the grips and thereby tightemng the loop about the object, and means earned by the support and responsive-to the moving of the grips for maintaining the object substantially stationary with respect to the support.

10. In wire tensioning means for an applance of the class described, a flexible element connected to the wire, a drum around which the flexible element may be wound,

.an incomplete friction ring on a face of the I drum, a continuously rotating friction wheel disposed near the friction ring, means for normall holding said wheel out of contact with sald ring, and means for forcing the wheel against the ring.

11. Wire tensioning means for a wire tying appliance, including a clamp for gripping the wire, a flexible member fastened at one end to the clamp, pull means fastened to the other end of the flexible member and arranged for pulling said member to cause the clamp to tension the wire, the flexible member being disposed in angular formation, a movable guide for said member disposed at the apex of the said angle, and yielding means pressing said guide away from said clamp.

12. Wire tensioning means for a Wire tying appliance, including a clamp for gripping the wire, a flexible member fastened at one end to the clamp, pull means fastened producing a predetermined tension on the wire, and means for automatically returning the clamp to its starting position.

13. In wire tensioning means for an appliance of the class described, a flexible band connected to the wire, adrum to wrap the band about the same around which one end ofthe band may be wrapped, power means for rotating the drum, means for limiting the rotation of the drum "by the power means, and means for rotating the drumback to its initial position. 14. In wire-tensioning means for an appliance of the class described, a flexible band connected to the wire, a drum around which one end of the band may be wrapped, power means for rotating the drum, means for 11miting the rotation of the drum by thepower means, and common means for returnmg the band and drum to their starting positions.

15. In a wire tying appliance, a table, means on the table for holding an ob ect and for gripping both ends of a wire loop 7 encircling the ob ect, ower means for separatin the two wire gripping means and thereby tensioning the said loop, and a. springpressed slide carried by the table and arranged for limiting the .SGPQIZE-UOIIBJ movement imparted to the wire gripping means by the power means.

16. In a wire-tying appliance, means for holding portions of a wire loop overlapped, means for tensioning the loop, and means responsive to a predetermined tensioning of the loop for intertwisting the overlapped loop portions; the aforesaid means including a continuously operatmgpower element, trip means for connecting said element with the wire intertwisting means, release means for disconnecting the last named two portions of the mechanism, and an operatmg member responsive to the tensioning of the loop and arranged both for actuating the trip means and for thereafter latching the trip means in inoperative position.

17. In a wire-tying appliance, means for holding portions of a wire loop overlapped, means for tensioning the loop, and means responsive to a predetermined tensioning of the loop for 'intertwisting the overlapped loop portions; the aforesaid means includ ing a continuously operating power element. trip means for connecting said element with the wire intertwisting means, release means for disconnecting the last named two portions of the mechanism, and an operating member responsive to the tensioning of the loop and arranged both for actuating the trip means and for thereafter latching the trip means in inoperative position, in combination with cooperating means for discontinuing the wire tensioning portion of the mechanism and for retracting the said operating member.

18. In wire twisting mechanism, a con tinuously rotating member, wire twisting means including a rotatable element, a clutch for connecting said member and element, trip means for setting the clutch, release means for throwing the clutch out after a predetermined rotational movement of the rotatable element, and an operating element arranged for actuating the trip means and for thereafter latching the trip means in inoperative position to prevent its repeating the setting of the clutch.

19. Mechanism as per claim 18, including as part of the trip means an element normally in the path of the operating element but moved out of said path by the engagement of a clutch portion thereagainst.

20. In a machine of the class designated, wire tensioning means including a flexible member arranged for tensioning the wire by a movement of the said member in one direction, means for moving the flexible member in the said direction, an idler over which the flexible member passes, a movable mounting for the idler, and yielding means resisting the movement of the said mountmg.

21. Wire tensioning means including a flexible member arranged for tensioning the wire by a movement of the said member in one direction, an idler over which the flexible member passes, a slidable mounting for the idler, and yielding means resisting a sliding movement of the said mounting.

22. Wire tensioning means including a flexible member arranged for tensioning the wire by a movement of the said member in one direction, an idler over which the flexible member passes, a slidable mounting for the idler, power means for moving the flexible member in the said direction, yieldingmeans arranged for resisting a movement of the slidable mounting of the idler until the wire has been tensioned to a predetermined extent, and means actuated by a movement of the said slidable mounting for operatively disconnecting the said power means.

23. In an appliance for banding an object with a wire loop encircling the object, a support for the object, grips carried by the support and engaging substantially end portions of the wire loop, and cooperatingv means carried by the support for moving thegrips farther apart and for maintaining the object substantially medial with respect to the grips, and means for securing portions of the wire loop to each other while the object is thus medially maintained.

24:. In an appliance for banding an object with a wire loop encircling the object and initially presenting portions longitudinally overlapping each other, gripsfor gripping the wire at points on opposite sides of the said overlapping, means for imparting separatory movement to the grips, and means for disturbing the resulting tensioning substantially equally in opposite directions from the said overlapping.

25. In an appliance for banding an ob ject with a wire loop encircling the object and initially presenting portions longitudinally overlapping each other, grips for gripping the wire at points on opposite sides of the said overlapping, means for imparting separatory movement to the grips, means for distributing the resulting tensioning substantially equally in opposite directions from the said overlapping, and means for thereafter securing overlapping portions of the wire to each other.

26. Grips engaging portions of a Wire loop encircling an object, and relatively responsive means for moving the grips farther apart and for maintaining a given part of the object substantially medial with respect to the grips.

:27. Grips engaging portions of a Wire loop encircling an object, relatively responsive means for moving the grips farther apart and for maintaining a given part of the object substantially medial with respect to the grips, and means for limiting the movement of the object With respect to one of the grips.

28. In apackage-banding machine, a support for a package, a stripper for raising the package ofi" the support, means for actuating the stripper, and yielding means normally holding the actuating means out of operative relation to the stripper.

29. In a package-banding machine, a support for a package, a stripper for raising the package off the support, lever-operated means for raising the stripper; and yielding means controlled by the operator separately from the lever-operated means and normally holding the latter out of operative relation to the stripper.

30. In a package-banding machine, a support for a package, band closing mechanism carried by the support; a stripper carried by the support and movable with respect thereto to move the package clear of the said mechanism, actuating mechanism or causing the stripper to effect the said movement of the package, and means controlled by the operator for normally holding the actuating mechanism out'of operative relation to the stripper.

31. In the Wire-banding of an object, the

method of securingan even tensioning of the Wire about the-obJect, WhlCh consists in yieldingly opposing'a movement of the object toward the direction from which the Wire is being tensioned.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, September 29th, 1917.

ARTHUR G. GUENTHER. 

